Bicycle-handle



(No Model.)

BICYCLE HANDLE.

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ATENT GFFICE.

EDWARD QUINCY NORTON, OF DAPHNE, ALABAMA.

BICYCLE- HANDLE.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,966, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed July 10) 1896.

to the hand resulting from the tight and continuous gripping of the handles and handlebars and to furnish means whereby the grip may be relaxed in riding and by which the development of the muscles of the hands may be equalized and partial paralysis of the muscles avoided.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement in position for use. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the device. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on about line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a modified construction. Fig. 5 is a detail section on about line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows another modification, and Fig. '7 shows the rest integral with the handle-bar.

In the use of bicycles it is found that a numbness of the hands results from any considerable pursuit of the practice and that certain muscles brought into play by the gripping of the handles are developed and strengthened and stiffened to an unusual degree. This has been noticed to such an extent in some instances as to seriously interfere with the use of the hands where flexibility and nimbleness are desirable, as in pianoplaying and the playing of other musical instru ments and in the manipulation of delicate mechanical devices. In overcoming this difficulty I provide the handle with a finger rest or bearing upon which the balls of the fingers may rest easily and be pressed with any degree of force desired in such manner as to strain the hand in the direction opposed to the gripping process and so rest the hand and, if desired, develop the muscles evenly, and so avoid the stiffness and cramping resulting from the use of the ordinary handle.

WVhile the invention might be carried out by making the finger rest or bearing in the Serial No. 598,666. (No model.)

form shown in Fig. 7 and integral with the handle-bar, it is preferred to make it separate and detachable and to construct and secure it as will be presently more fully described.

It is preferred to provide clamps for holding the rest or bearing to the machine and to furnish means whereby the device will be held from tilting forward when pressed upon by the fingers.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the rest or bearing is composed of a length of wire or rod bentat one end to form a ringlike clamp A to fit around the handle-bar, is bent thence to form a frame 13, which encircles the plate or plates 0, is bent at its middle to form a portion D, which in practice projects down in front of the handle E and in line with the post F, and has at its end opposite the ring A a ring-clamp G, which embraces the post F,'thus holding the devices firmly to the handle.

The frames B hold the plates 0 and preferably fit in edge grooves formed in such plates. The plates may be of wood, rubber, or other suitable material, and are preferably set at a slight incline rising toward their front edges. These plates form a prolonged bearing for the balls of the fingers and are preferably dished and provided with the depressions H, forming individual seats for the balls of the fingers, which may rest therein and be pressed upon with any degree of force desired, either to relax and rest the hand or strain it reversely to the gripping operation, at the same time guiding the machine.

In Fig. 4.- I use only one plate, having the seats for the fingers of both hands therein and provide clamps I at the ends, which clamps embrace the handle-bar. This plate has fixed to it the lug i, which projects down and bears at its lower end against the front of the post.

In Fig. 6 the clamps are in the nature of rubber bands encircling the plate and handlebar and holding them together, the plate in this case also being provided with a lug i to bear against the front end of the post.

In use the fingers may be rested whenever there is an easy stretch of road, and the rest or bearing is of such size that the rider can grip around it and the handle-bar, if necessary, at any time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Abicycle handle-bar provided with a fin- 5 ger-rest comprising a wire or rod frame and a finger plate or plates held therein substantially as shown and described.

2. A finger rest or bearing for bicycle handle-bars comprising a finger plate or plates and a wire frame holding the same and bent forming clamps to engage the bicycle and hold the rest in place substantially as shown and described.

3. The finger rest or hearing for bicycler5 handles consisting of the plate or plates and the wire or rod bent between its ends forming a frame holding said plate or plates and at its ends to form the clamps for engagement with the bicycle substantially as shown and described. I

4. A finger-rest for bicycle handle-bars having a flat upper surface and provided therein with individual depressions forming seats for the tips of the fingers when extended horizontally substantially as described.

ED l/VARD QUINCY NORTON.

Witnesses:

P. B. TURPIN, SoLoN O. KEMON. 

